USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Norwood > Norwood annual report 1911-1914 > Part 16
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$462.00
Winslow School notes,
1,280.00
Fire House notes,
240.00
New Street notes,
252.00
General loan notes,
174.00
Electric light notes,
1,825.00
Electric light extension note,
90.00
Water extension notes,
529.50
Water bonds,
2,060.00
Sewer bonds,
7,340.00
Anticipation of tax notes,
501.94
Other warrants,
231,150.17
Balance, cash on hand, January 31, 1912,
94,920.62
$418,574.00
I have examined the accounts of receipts and payments of Harold W. Gay, Treasurer of the Town of Norwood, and they are correct, agreeing with the accountant's books and the balance of cash on hand is ninety-four thousand and nine hundred and twenty dollars and sixty-two cents as shown.
JAMES E. PENDERGAST,
Town Accountant.
1
FORTIETH ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
OF
NORWOOD, MASSACHUSETTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDING JANUARY 31st, 1912
1
ORGANIZATION 1911-1912.
School Committee.
Alfred N. Ambrose, 12 Vernon street, term expires March, 1912.
Emily C. Fisher, 345 Neponset street, resigned January 4, 1912.
*Sarah N. Bigelow, 219 Winter street, term expires March, 1912.
George H. Smith, 193 Walpole street, term expires March, 1913.
Cornelius M. Callahan, 23 Railroad avenue, term expires March, 1913.
Harriet W. Lane, 296 Walpole street, term expires March, 1914.
Ralph E. Bullard, 92 Walpole street, term expires March, 1914.
George H. Smith, Chairman.
Austin H. Fittz, Secretary, resigned September 7, 1911.
Mary A. Burnham, Clerk, elected September 7, 1911.
*Elected at joint meeting of Selectmen and School Com- mittee, January 22, 1912, to fill vacancy until next annual town meeting.
Sub-Committees.
Text-books, Supplies and Courses of Study-Mr. Ambrose, Mr. Callahan, Mr. Bullard.
Finance, Accounts and Claims-Mr. Callahan, Mr. Ambrose, Mr. Bullard.
4
Teachers and Instruction-Mrs. Lane, Miss Fisher, Mr. Smith.
Janitors, Schoolhouses and Grounds-Mr. Ambrose, Mr. Smith.
Fuel and Heating Apparatus-Mr. Callahan, Mr. Bullard.
Music, Drawing, Penmanship, Attendance-Miss Fisher, Mrs. Lane.
Physical and Manual Training and Sewing-Mrs. Lane, Miss Fisher.
Medical Inspection and Transportation-Mr. Smith, Mrs. Lane.
Committee Meetings.
The regular monthly meeting of the School Committee is held at the School Committee rooms, 22 Sanborn Block, at S p.m., on the first Thursday of each month.
Superintendent of Schools.
Austin H. Fittz, 1 Marion avenue.
Telephone number, Norwood 51-W.
The office of the Superintendent is at 22 Sanborn Block. His office is open from 8 a.m. until 11.45 a.m. and from 1.15 p.m. until 5 p.m. on school days; and from 8 a.m. until 11.45 a.m. on Saturdays.
The Superintendent is in his office from 8 until 9 a.m. on Mon- days and Fridays; and from 4 to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Telephone number, Norwood 133.
5
SCHOOL CALENDAR, 1912.
Winter Term.
First half: Tuesday, January 2 to Friday, February 16. Second half: Monday, February 26 to Friday, April 19.
Spring Term.
Monday, April 29 to Friday, June 21.
Fall Term.
Wednesday, September 4 to Friday, December 20.
1912-1913. Winter Term.
First half: Tuesday, December 31 to Friday, February 14. Second half: Monday, February 24 to Friday, April 18.
Holidays.
October 12, Thanksgiving Day, and the following Friday, Good Friday, April 19, May 30, June 17.
6
No Session Signals.
The hours at which the signals will be given for no session of the schools in stormy weather are at 7.15, 8, and 8.20 a.m .; 12.30 and 12.50 p.m.
A signal at 7.15 indicates no forenoon session of any schools.
A signal at 8 a.m. indicates no forenoon session of any grades below the High School.
A signal at 8.20 a.m. indicates that there will be a forenoon session in all the schools excepting the primary grades (first three grades).
A signal at 12.30 p.m. indicates no afternoon session of any schools.
A signal at 12.50 p.m. indicates that all schools will be in session excepting the three primary grades.
7
REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND SUPERINTENDENT.
To the School Committee of Norwood:
I submit herewith the annual report of the Superintendent of Schools for the year ending Jan. 31, 1912. I have prepared this report with the understanding that it is to be presented to you for adoption as the joint report of the Superintendent and Committee to the citizens of the town.
The receipts and expenditures have been as follows:
Receipts.
Appropriations,
$53,000.00
Tuition,
267.50
Sale of school tickets,
68.68
Sale of schoolbooks and supplies,
9.07
Sale of incidentals,
13.06
Sale of fuel (evening school, etc.),
92.04
Woman's club, (reimbursement),
16.00
$53,466.35
Expenditures.
Teachers,
$37,226.89
Janitors and sweepers,
3,838.75
Schoolbooks and supplies,
3,620.24
Incidentals and repairs,
4,463.44
Heating and lighting,
3,095.79
School tickets,
1,009.50
School physician,
200.00
$53,454.61
Balance,
$11.74
8
Two outstanding bills amounting to $41.73 remain unpaid and have been presented to the Town Accountant.
SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS.
Evening School. Receipts.
Appropriations, Sale of school books,
$2,200.00
35.87
$2,235.87
Expenditures.
Teachers,
$968.00
Janitor,
81.00
Schoolbooks and supplies,
131.19
Incidentals and repairs,
209.48
Heating and lighting,
138.89
$1,528.56
Balance,
$707.31
Shattuck School Playground.
Appropriation,
$1,000.00
Expended,
651.00
Balance,
$349.00
Everett School Fire Escape.
Appropriation,
$500.00
Expended,
495.00
Balance, $5.00
For a more detailed statement of the expenditures of the School Department reference may be had to the report of the Town Accountant.
9
An Analysis of Expenditures.
The cost to the Town of Norwood for the support of its schools (exclusive of expense for repairs) during the past year has been $51,135.77 as against $39,278.25 five years ago, an increase of $11,857.52. For the purpose of analyzing this increase in ex- penditure, I have prepared the following table which is based upon statistics required for the annual report of the State Board of Education. The figures given are for years when expendi- tures were about average for the periods represented and so form a fair basis for comparison.
Expense per pupil for
1906-7 $17.31
1911-12 $22.25
Increase or Decrease +$4.94
Teachers' wages,
Conveyance of pupils,
.34
.60
+ .26
Fuel and care of school premises,
4.62
4.29
-
.33
School Committee including clerical aid and truant service,
.08
.00
-
.08
Superintendent and assistants,
1.42
1.45
+
.03
School books and supplies,
2.22
2.28
+
.06
School sundries,
1.55
1.47
-
.08
Total,
$27.54
$32.34
+$4.80
This table indicates that exclusive of teachers' salaries, it cost fourteen cents less per pupil for the support of the Norwood schools in 1911-12 than in 1906-7.
The increased cost for teachers' salaries is due to two causes : (1) a larger number of teachers were employed in 1911-12 than in 1906-7; (2) salaries increased. Of the $4.94 increased cost per pupil for teachers' wages $3.81 is because of additional teachers and $1.13 is for increases in salaries.
How do expenditures for schools in Norwood compare with expenditures for schools in other places? The latest informa- tion available on this point is from the reports of the State Board of Education for the years 1909-10, 1908-9, and 1907-8. The following table is compiled from the figures of these reports. The figures for three years are given because expenditures for
10
1909-10 in Norwood were lower than normal and hence any estimate based upon figures for that year alone would be mis- leading.
Year
Expenditure per pupil in Norwood
Average expenditure per pupil for state
1907-8
$27.22
$30.15
1908-9
29.89
30.98
1909-10
27.24
32.07
Average,
$28.12
$31.07
This table indicates that it has cost the Town of Norwood about three dollars less per pupil for education than the average for the state.
Repairs and Alterations.
The East school has been painted, two sections of the boiler at this school which had become cracked have been replaced, and the boiler at the High school has been equipped with new tubes. The boilers have all been insured. At the Everett School a fire escape has been added. This fire escape was neces- sary because four of the rooms in the building had only one exit each and these exits were so situated that in case of fire all means of egress might have been cut off. At the West School hardwood floors have been laid, adjustable seats and desks put in, the ceilings and the walls in the hallways kalsomined, a fire escape constructed, and additional window space cut through so that when this building opened in September the rooms were well lighted and sunny. Telephones have been installed in all the buildings.
Opening of the West School.
In September the West School opened with an attendance of fifty-eight pupils. On January 31 the membership of this school was seventy-six. The building accommodates the pupils of the first four grades who live in the West School district. The committee has defined the bounds of this district as follows:
11
Beginning at the point where Walpole street intersects the Walpole town line; thence along the southerly side of Walpole street to Phillips avenue; thence along the westerly side of Phillips avenue to Winslow avenue; thence along the southerly side of Winslow avenue to Walnut avenue; thence along the easterly side of Walnut avenue to Everett avenue; thence along the southerly side of Everett avenue to Hoyle street; thence in a straight line in a northerly direction to the intersection of Walpole and Bond streets; thence in a straight line in a north- westerly direction to the vertex of an obtuse angle in the present bound of the Winslow School district; thence continuing in a westerly direction along the present bound of the Winslow School district: said West School district to include such portion of the town as lies to the north and west of the bounds men- tioned and to include all houses abutting on the portions of the streets named that are included within said bounds; except that all houses abutting on Bond street are excluded.
Shattuck School Playground.
During the spring the citizens who live in the vicinity of the Shattuck School showed splendid civic spirit by beginning the work of putting into condition the large tract of land adjoining the school which was purchased by the town several years ago for a playground. The men gave their evenings to labor with the pick and shovel, and in the course of a few weeks made a con- siderable improvement in the appearance of the premises. This undertaking, so well begun, was continued by vote of the town in the fall by which vote an appropriation of $1,000 was granted to finish the work. The land has been leveled, a retaining wall constructed, and with the opening of spring the work will be completed and Norwood will have its first publicly owned play- ground.
This movement undoubtedly will spread to other parts of the town until within a few years Norwood will have a number of playgrounds that will guarantee to future generations of chil-
12
dren open spaces where they can play and develop, and can grow in health and strength and in the cultivation of those virtues that make for sociability, a regard for the rights of others, and the advancement of community life.
Physical Welfare of School Children.
The duty of caring for the health of the child rests primarily upon the parent. In the administration of any work which has for its end the improvement of physical conditions among school children, this fact should never be forgotten. The schools, through the work of the school nurse and local dentists have sought to inform parents of physical conditions among their children that have needed medical or dental treatment. Up to the end of the school year which closed in June, 1911, the nurse had examined 5960 cases among school children. Of these she found 2943 that needed treatment and 3017 that did not need treatment. She sent 1177 notices to parents, visited one hun- dred fifty homes, and with the sanction of the parents took thirty-seven cases to hospitals.
The work of examining the teeth of the school children was begun by the school nurse last spring. Before the close of the school year she had examined 1296 children, had found 827 needing treatment and had ascertained that ninety-three of these children had consulted dentists as a result of her examina- tions.
This work of cooperating with parents in improving the con- dition of the teeth among school children was continued by Dr. Lyman F. Bigelow at a parents' meeting at Everett Hall in June. At this meeting Dr. Bigelow addressed the parents on the importance of caring for the teeth of children, and as a result of this lecture a considerable number of children received dental treatment during the summer.
During the fall and winter six of the local dentists in coopera- tion with the School Department and the Norwood Civic As- sociation examined (up to February 1) the teeth of eight hundred
13
forty children. The Superintendent and School Committee take this opportunity to express their appreciation of this ser- vice so generously rendered. The examinations have been very thorough, decayed teeth have been noted, and notices of defects sent home to parents. As a result of these notices many children have received dental treatment.
The experience of other places justifies the conclusion that no work has a more important bearing upon the improvement of the general physical condition of the child than that of caring for the teeth. The report of the proceedings of the Board of Education of Cleveland, Ohio, for February 27, 1911, is au- thority for the statement that as a result of dental treatment, "definite and indisputable tests made upon twenty-seven (27) children . . . . show . . a very decided improvement in these children in every way. . . . . . The psychological tests which were made expressly to show the increase in working efficiency as related to school work, show an average increase of 37.44 per cent."
The report of the Dispensaries Committee of the Massa- chusetts Dental Society for 1911 is authority for the following statement. "Since the year 1904 there has been a painstaking examination of the teeth of children in the West Roxbury Home for Poor Children. These examinations have been followed up by so much work as was necessary to keep the teeth and mouths of the children in a healthy condition. It is believed by those in charge of the Home, that this dental service, private in nature and largely rendered by one man, has almost entirely eliminated the expense for medicine and medical attendance."
In view of such evidence as this I cannot urge upon parents too strongly the duty of caring for the teeth of their children and the folly of neglect.
Vocational Training.
About one year ago with the approval of your Committee I asked five gentlemen who are identified with the bookmaking
14
industries in Norwood to serve on an advisory committee for the purpose of considering the possibilities of vocational training as a part of the work of the Norwood school system. These gentlemen attended several meetings, at the last of which Mr. C. A. Prosser and Mr. M. W. Murray as representatives of the State Board of Education were present. The conclusion reached at this meeting favors the establishment of a day in- dustrial school, independent from the shops with a course of study for two years to be followed by a year of experience in the shop, a diploma to be granted upon the successful comple- tion of this year of work.
Conferences have also been held in the neighboring towns of Dedham and Walpole to discuss the practicability of coopera- tion among the towns in this vicinity for the purpose of pro- viding different forms of vocational training for boys and girls of differing tastes.
Inasmuch as the town must soon consider the problem of erecting one or more new school buildings, including a High School, it seems wise to postpone the further discussion of vo- cational training until such time as the town shall have available space, either in the present High School building or elsewhere, for such work.
Evening School.
In September the Norwood Civic Association presented to the School Committee a petition signed by two hundred nineteen persons, for the opening of an evening school to teach the Eng- lish language. At a subsequent town meeting the voters ap- propriated $1,500 for this purpose.
The school opened in the High School building Monday even- ing, Oct. 16. During the first week 300 pupils registered. The character of the registration is shown by the following statistics. Of the 300 pupils 103 were born in Finland, 43 in Russia, 39 in Sweden, 30 in Italy, 24 in Lithuania, 9 in Austria, 8 in Syria, 8 in the United States, 7 in Greece, 5 in Ireland, 5 in Norway, 5
15
in Poland, 4 in Turkey, 3 in France, 2 in Sicily, and 1 each in Armenia, Denmark, Germany, Hungary, and Roumania.
The ages ran as follows: Under 16, 1; 16 to 20 inclusive, 96; 21 to 30 inclusive, 174; 31 to 40 inclusive, 26; over 40, 3. The number of males registered was 260; the number of females, 40.
The subjects offered were reading, writing, English language and spelling. Pupils were permitted to attend four nights a week, but the school was so organized that pupils might attend two nights without loss of progress.
The attendance has exceeded all expectations. Before the school was organized it was estimated that the average attend- ance would be about eighty. During the first term of ten weeks the average attendance was one hundred seventy-seven. Up to the end of the first fourteen weeks (when this report was written) at no time did the average attendance for any week fall below ninety-six. This record of attendance means that about ninety pupils have been present at the school with com- mendable regularity since its organization and a somewhat larger number have received instruction for considerable periods of time.
Business men have testified to the efficiency of the school in the training it has given their employees in the use of the English language. The school has lessened the number of illiterates in the community. It has given a good proportion of our popu- lation a better acquaintance with our language and customs and has thus helped to get them ready for citizenship.
Savings Department.
By arrangement with the Dedham Institution for Savings the schools have opened a savings department. This step has been taken in accordance with the provisions of a law passed at the last session of the legislature which authorizes savings banks to receive deposits from school children. This law was passed for the purpose of helping to make effective a previous law whereby schools are required to teach thrift. Children are
16
permitted to make deposits of one cent or more at school and when these deposits amount to three dollars an account is opened for them in the Dedham Institution for Savings where their deposits draw interest in accordance with the rules of the bank.
Half-Session Plan in First Two Grades.
In Sept. 1910, in accordance with a vote of the Committee the first grades throughout the town attended school for half sessions instead of full sessions. This plan had been tried in the first grade at the Winslow School and had worked well. It had been found that the pupils were in better physical and mental condition during the shorter sessions, the teacher was less tired, and the pupils were as far advanced at the end of the year as they had been when the sessions were longer. Similar results followed when the first grades throughout the town were put on the half-session basis.
In the fall of 1910 one of the second-grade rooms was put on half time as an experiment. At the end of the year the children had lost nothing of progress in their studies. Last fall the second grades were put on a half-session basis forenoons and a full-session basis in the afternoon.
At first sight this arrangement looks like reducing the amount of work done by each pupil. As a matter of fact the work of the individual pupil is not lessened materially. For, example, if a class of forty pupils is allowed twenty minutes for reading, the average length of time given each pupil is one-half minute. If the class consists of twenty pupils and the period is ten minutes long each pupil gets a half minute to read as before. Smaller classes mean that the attention of the teacher is not distracted by pupils at the seats. Consequently, the pupils reciting get more of the teacher's time when fewer pupils are present, because the teacher's attention is diverted less frequently.
The plan outlined here has been tried in several cities and towns in Massachusetts and has resulted in pupils doing even better work than when they have attended school the full ses- sions. This arrangement is succeeding equally well in Norwood.
17
Unassigned Teacher.
A change in the organization of the schools that is bringing excellent results is the employment of an unassigned teacher. An unassigned teacher acts as a substitute for teachers who are out of school because of illness or for other reasons and assists the regular teachers with pupils who are behind in their studies.
For example, a teacher is unexpectedly ill. The unassigned teacher takes her place and the work goes on without inter- ruption. Pupils fall behind in their studies. The unassigned teacher assists these pupils by giving them individual instruc- tion and brings them up to grade. A teacher in a large first grade finds herself at the beginning of the year with a number of children who cannot speak the English language. The un- assigned teacher works with such pupils for a few weeks and they take their places with their class. Such assistance rendered at critical times adds much to the efficiency of the schools.
Superintendent's Assistant.
The employment of an assistant in the Superintendent's office relieves him of clerical and other details and enables him to utilize the time thus saved for more important matters. The employment of such an assistant is customary in towns the size of Norwood. The Superintendent's assistant in Norwood is a normal school graduate and when needed for such work is called upon to substitute for regular teachers. She is the Clerk of the School Committee.
Teachers' Salaries.
The following table indicates that the Town of Norwood is paying its teachers lower salaries than are other towns similarly situated. This table includes all towns within a radius of twenty miles of Boston, the population of which is between 5,000 and 15,000, the valuation of which is between $10,000,000 and $20,000,000, and the school membership of which is between 1,000 and 2,000. The table is, therefore, based upon conditions as nearly like those of Norwood as it is possible to obtain.
18
Town
Population,
Census of
1910
Av. Memb.
of Schools, 1909
Valuation
Present
$700
Dedham,
9,284
1669
12,812,384
650
Grades I-III.
Grades IV-VIII.
Watertown,
12,875
1647
14,157,041
650
Winchester,
9,309
1648
12,471,725
675
Winthrop,
10,132
1641
11,993,600
675
Norwood,
8,014
1625
13,799,065
600
Note-Of these towns, Dedham, Watertown, Winchester and Winthrop have under consideration increases in teachers' salaries for the school year 1912-13.
In the earlier part of this report it has been pointed out that the latest available statistics are to the effeet that the Town of Norwood spends nearly three dollars less per pupil for its sehools than the average for the state. In view of this fact and in view of what other towns are paying their teachers as proved by the table just presented, it is possible to draw only one conclusion and that is if the sehools of Norwood are to be maintained on a basis of effieieney equal to that of other towns, the maximum salary for grade teachers must be inereased to seven hundred dollars.
It has already been pointed out in this report that expendi- tures per pupil, other than for teachers' salaries, are not increas- ing. By basing inereases in teachers' salaries on efficiency as demonstrated in classroom work the town will be assured of value received for dollars expended. On this basis the added cost per pupil will be less than one dollar for this coming year and not over two dollars in future years. Sinee expenditures per pupil, other than for teachers' salaries, are not increasing, the total expenditure per pupil will still be less than the average for the state.
1909
Maximum Salary for grade Teachers
Arlington,
11,189
1942
$11,479,914
700
19
Balch School.
During the school year 1907-8 the Balch School accommo- dated the pupils of the first three grades who lived in that part of the town. From that time until last September it accommo- dated the first two grades. In September it became necessary to transfer eleven pupils from the second grade to the Winslow School.
Statistics in the possession of the School Committee indicate that in September, 1913, at least eight rooms will be required to accommodate the pupils in the first six grades who live in the Balch District. These statistics mean that a new building must be ready for occupancy at that time. This building should be of twelve rooms. The rooms not used in 1913 will be required in the years immediately following.
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